Today's article is a guest post from Dr Paul Botha from Spininfo: All you need to know about the art and science of spin bowling.

He never is part of the seam attack who clamour over the pros and cons of the new ball. They sit at the end of a long day’s play with their feet up in the dressing room claiming all the accolades for bowling the opposition out cheaply. 

The spin bowler has to take advice from everyone in the team – isn’t it strange how everyone has an opinion on how the spinner in the team should operate optimally.   The most ridiculous of this type of advice is surely, “Just chuck it up and we’ll catch him on the fence.” What? 

Does anyone besides the spin bowler understand the role that he plays in a cricket side? With the exception of Mike Brearley of course.

This extends to the most accomplished of Test cricketers who find themselves in the commentary booths around the world. Isn’t it amazing how poorly these people are prepared at times? I remember watching a Test between South Africa and New Zealand at a time when the orthodox left arm spinner from South Africa, Nicky Boje, had just entered the Test arena. Comparisons were being made between Boje and the New Zealand left arm spinner Daniel Vettori. Kepler Wessels without hesitation said that Vettori had the edge over Boje because his strike rate in Test cricket was better. “Hang on a minute!” I thought. “That doesn’t sound right?” I looked up the comparative strike rates and, yes, as I thought Boje had a much better strike rate than Vettori at that time.

So, fast forward to South Africa against England 2008, and for some or other reason SuperSport South Africa feel they should subject us to Geoffrey Boycott. A legend in his own mind. Boycott spent the whole series telling the world how rubbish the South Africa left arm spinner Paul Harris was. Fast forward yet again to 30 December 2008 and South Africa have just gone two to zero up in the three test series against Australia. The Australian press have lauded Paul Harris for the role he has played in this epic South African victory. As has Mark Nicholas (probably the best cricket commentator in the world today with Tony Greig) and Shane Warne. They are all in agreement that Harris is a bowler who knows his limitations and who operates successfully within those parameters. He bowls accurately, thereby not giving away many runs in his spells (Test career runs per over at present 2.7 – the same as Shane Warne) and achieves extra bounce because of his height and takes valuable top order wickets.  

What can club spinners learn from Harris? There are certainly plenty of spinners who can empathise with his position as someone with limited skills but a desire to be effective.

You will know early in your career whether you are a big spinner of the ball or not.

If you are a finger spinner and you do not spin the ball a lot (also remember you only need to turn the ball 6 inches to beat the bat) then you are usually on your own, unless you are fortunate enough to be part of a school or club set up where you have an insightful coach. Concentrate on and master the following:

• Ensure that through regular practice you become extremely accurate thereby giving away few runs during your spell and ensuring that a captain / coach will have confidence in you bowling a tight spell.
• You will not take bags of wickets, but through accurate bowling will build pressure leading to taking important ones at critical points in the game.
• Know your field placing - Learn by watching a lot of first class and Test cricket.
• Read about cricket.  Start with former England captain (and psychologist) Mike Brearley's The Art of Captaincy.
• Finally, if spin bowling your specialty, work hard on the other disciplines thereby possible giving you the edge in selection meetings.

Photo credit: ActionPix (Maruko)